Illuminated sign



June 2, I931. M. DWYER ET AL I 1,808,456

ILLUMINATED S IGN Filed Jan. 20, 1-930 0 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE MARY L. DWYER AND ION E. DWYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI ILLUMINAI'IVED SIGN Application filed January 20, "1930. Serial No. 422,067.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in illuminated signs, the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed;

6 The main objects of our invention are to provide a sign visible by day or by night; secondly, one for residences adapted to be located nearer the observer in the street or on the side walk and the designating characters more readily visible than the ordinary numbers or names on the front door, to facilitate finding the same by one seeking such; and thirdly, to provide a suitable reflector adapted to diffuse and spread the rays of light fro-m an electric bulb upon the back of a translucent sheet bearing opaque characters designating such residence or its occupant.

Ordinary house nimiber are often placed on the front porch columns or *house front and are easily seen in daylight but are not:

readily seen at night. Also the front door transom bearing the house numbers is often fore it is diflicult to see from the street; even at night when the hall is lighted trouble-is often experienced to find and discern the numbers.

Our device provides a contrasting sign by day and night, which is located at a distance 0' from the front door on the front of the porch or even near the sidewalk when the house is set back a considerable distance from the street; and at night our sign is clearly illuminated by an electric bulb wired to a switch located in the house where it is readily accessible.

In the accompanying drawings on which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts, 7 Fig. 1 represents a view of our device in cabinet perspective and an electric switch therefor; v

Fig. 2, a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a vertical section of the middle portion of our device showing the lamp and its detachable support; and

Fig. 4, a perspective view illustrating the use of our device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 3 represents arectangular box having a front wall 4: of frosted glass or other translucent sheet material, bearing suitable designating numbers, letters or other characters 5 referring to the residence or its occupant. These characters are preferably black as indicated and formed separately of opaque vitreous or other material adaptedto be cemented tosaid glass front to make up the designating numher or other characters desired referring to the residence where'it is used. Centrally located in said box is a lamp bulb 6, preferably elongated (Fig. 3), mounted in a socket 7 carried by a disc 8 having'an upturned rim and bead 9 adapted to fit in an'opening in the top or elsewhere in sai-d'box. The lamp V is provided with electric connections 10 through a switch 11 to a suitablesource of current. This switch is located inside the house and the connections are carried to the box whichis located on the front of-the porch or elsewhere at a height convenient for obshaded by the porch in the daytime and thereservation from the sidewalk or street. Be.

hind the said lamp is a curved reflector of tin or other suitable material, which extends 5 from the middle of the back portion of the box outward in both directions towards the ends and forward to points closely adjacent to the glass front. This reflector is preferably of cylindrical shape vertically disposed and struck on an are from a center 0 (Fig. 2). The rays of light from the bulb striking this cylindrical reflecting surface, will be reflected therefrom at an angle equal to the angle of incidence with reference to a radial line from=the center 0 as indicated in Fig. 2. Thus the rays are'diifused and spread over the inside surface of the glass front which they strike at substantially similar inclined directions as indicated in said figure.

The ends of said reflector are preferably secured byinturned portions of the end walls 1212 which also serve to hold the glass, front in position against the surrounding rim 13. Openings Hare thus formed in'the end walls and corresponding openings '15 in the reflector, provide for ventilation and cooling of the illuminated box. 7 v

The wire connections passing through the disc 8 to the lamp'are protected by bitumen or other suitable cement 16 from the weather as sealing material for this recessed disc as shown in Fig. 3. The disc and bulb can be readily removed from the box for renewing the bulb, and the said disc pressed into the box opening again and thus form a seal similar to the usual recessed covers of preserve cans.

turned outward at the rear to form flanges 17 having holes for attachment by screws or nails to the front of the porch or other suitable support. A back plate 18 with matching holes is preferably provided, and. the curved reflector is heldin engagement with the inturned clips by this back Wall, or otherwise. The elongated tubular lamp bulb corresponds. with the vertically disposed cylindrical reflector so that light rays are reflected therefrom upon the back surface of the translucent wall in rays that are in substantially horizontal planes, and said rays strike theinner surface of the frosted glass slantin ly as indicated and producesubstantially equal diffused lighting effect in said translucent wall, whereby the characters on the outside surface contrast therewith with- V out objectionable glare.

We claim: 1. A device of the character descnbed com- 7 prisingvabox having top and bottom and end walls with front flanges on each and a'translucent, front wall, contrasting; designatingcharacters securedon the outside of the front V wall, anelongated lamp bulb centrally locatedin said box and having electric connections, and a vertically disposed cylindrical."

reflector curved from the ,rear of'sai'd lamp 7 to the front wall,said end walls havingeportions cut and bent inwardbehind the reflector and cooperating with said front flanges to secure said refleetorand front wall in place and providing ventilating openings, substantially as described. V

2. A-device of the character described comprising a rectangular. box having a trans- Luce-n t front Wall and end walls provided withfl-angesfor fastening to a support,the end walls having cut portions forming inturned clips near the front wall, a lamp bulb operatively mounted in said box, a curved reflector behind said bulband having its ends engaged by said clips, and aback wall matching said flanges and holding the reflector e11- Vgaged by said. clips,v substantially; as de scribed.

V In testimony whereof we have afii'xed; our signatures.

I MARYiL. IDYAWYJER. oN E. DW ER.

The end walls 12l2 are preferably 

